If not, then she can only hope for the best.
Once inside the palace gates, she discovered that the cold palace was completely different from what she had imagined.
My impression of the Cold Palace was that it was damp and filthy, or at least like the outside world, with netting growing on the eaves and no one cleaning it.
This place is different. The floor is spotless, and the tables and chairs have been wiped clean. The hall is sparsely decorated; the only thing that catches the eye is a vase with a few wildflowers casually stuck in the corner of a table.
While it may not be as opulent as the palaces of the Empress and Consort Qin, it is still clean and tidy.
Consort Jing brought her a chair, which Qin Qi quickly accepted. How could she let the emperor's woman work for someone of no rank or status like her? Did she have a death wish?
Consort Jing sat down beside her and, seeing how nervous she was, smiled and said, "Sit down. Don't be so formal. Neither my sister nor I are people who are so particular about rules. You can relax."
Looking at her, Qin Xi was reminded of something else.
Consort Ruan's family wasn't particularly noble, but she was inherently proud. It wasn't that she was inherently bad, but rather that she was upright and couldn't tolerate any filth. Otherwise, she wouldn't have offended Emperor Yuming.
I had long heard that Consort Jing was of commoner origin and only used honorific titles on important occasions. She also didn't have many servants around her, especially after her miscarriage. She would only have a few more servants when she needed to make a grand entrance.
Fortunately, she only wanted to chant Buddhist scriptures and eat vegetarian food, and did not want to attend various occasions. Emperor Yuming knew her personality, so he acquiesced.
It seems that's indeed the case.
However gentle she was, Qin Xi dared not overstep the bounds; she still had to abide by the rules. Even if Consort Jing told her to do as she pleased, she could not do as she was told.
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty." Qin Qi obediently sat down under her subordinate.
Consort Jing seemed to remember something and asked, "Are you Prime Minister Qin's daughter?"
Qin Xi nodded, "Your Majesty, my father is indeed Qin Deng."
"I have seen you before. I was with Qi Fan, and you and Qi Yu were playing in the Imperial Garden. You weren't very tall then."
Qi Fan was the courtesy name of the Second Prince, Zhao Xuanwu. Qin Xi was taken aback; Consort Jing had actually met her before?
Thinking of the Second Prince, Consort Jing sighed, "I can't believe you've grown up so much and gotten married. Time really flies."
Qin Xi pursed her lips, unsure how to respond.
Fortunately, Consort Jing didn't make things difficult for her. Instead, she asked about something else, "Have you married the second son of Minister Lu's family?"
Qin Qi nodded.
"Today seems to be a welcoming banquet for the envoys of the Kingdom of Qing. Why are you here alone? Where is Young Master Lu?"
Qin Xi looked embarrassed. "I didn't mean to bother Your Highness. I came out to find the restroom... but I got lost."
She paused, lowered her eyelids slightly, and said, "My husband... is still in the Baohe Hall and did not come out with me."
"I see." Consort Jing nodded slowly, indicating that she understood.
Consort Ruan, who had remained silent, circled around Qin Qi, crossed her arms in front of her, and suddenly raised an eyebrow, her usual serious demeanor evident. "Did you have a fight with your husband?"
Qin Xi froze.
Consort Ruan scoffed lightly, "Surprised?"
Consort Jing glared at her, pulled her down, and sat her on a chair to the side. Then she said to Qin Qi, "Actually, I also feel that you seem to have something on your mind. Is it related to Young Master Lu?"
Qin Xi bit her lower lip and remained silent.
Consort Jing gave her such a wonderful feeling; she was gentle and virtuous, seemingly radiating maternal love. Having lost her mother at a young age, she desperately longed for her mother's embrace.
But……
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